Good housekeeping for the very tired, overstretched and poorly

[tiredowl]

Any interest in a tips and support thread? I have chronic fatigue syndrome so have little energy, can't afford a cleaner, but nicer home environment would be a real life if I could achieve it :-)
I don't really have the energy for a full-on flylady thing, and the tone does annoy me a bit, but I am trying to incorporate the principle of little efforts, consistently applied, add up and make a difference, although often I just can't.
Anyone else?

Not read whole thread but also have cfs and struggle. Especially meals and clearing up. Posting so I can read whole thread later.

I tend to crash as soon as kids in bed so can't leave things until then.

this thread is perfect for me.I have fibromyalgia and until a month ago was a single mum to 5 though only 3 still at home. Its been really hard moving to a smaller house though having a partner makes such a difference to share things with. He also has fibro and works full time as a mechanic. His pain isn't managed so a lot still falls to me, im 20 weeks pregnant also and the tiredness is the worst thing at the moment. Im trying to get some kind of routine but not there yet and desperately want to get into meal planning.

Not to boast or anything, but I've had a rather surprisingly good few days and I've been able to get a lot more done So the flat is in a much easier state to maintain, and I also feel better when I get up in the morning and see that it's much clearer.

For me personally, I find it much easier if I 'sort' the kitchen in the evening - which means putting any leftovers away, scraps into the bin, dishes into the sink, and a quick wipe of the surfaces. We have a small kitchen. This takes me about 10 minutes, depending on how things are, but it makes a big difference to the morning routine as there is space to move about and it feels clean, even though I just did some simple bits. DH is the main dish washer, and he cleans at some point during the morning or day, not often in the evening due to tiredness. I don't mind if the sink is full of dishes, because they're in their 'place' - I don't like dirty dishes left out on the side as it makes me feel like everything is messy.

Our biggest issue is vacuuming. Ideally it needs to be done very regularly because the whole property (save the kitchen and bathroom) is carpeted, and we have a toddler who trails crumbs everywhere! But it's also one of the more difficult tasks and takes a lot of effort. I considered one of those mechanical broom things, my parents had one when I was little, but I've no idea if they're any good or if that was just an 80s thing We got a handheld vac which helped but it's not ideal across the whole property, just for bits and pieces. I need something to help keep crumbs at bay, until maybe a twice-weekly vacuum?

Welcome recovering and shelley - lots of useful info on meal planning on here so hopefully you'll find it useful. Meal planning is probably the one thing I've got under control. That and clothes washing. I figure that as long as we're clean and fed then the rest can be done as and when.

Not boasting at all Larry - always good to hear when there are good days - I agree once you've had a good clear up or feels so much more manageable - it's just the maintenance that's the problem for me as when you have a day where your health goes to pot you can get a back log so easily.

I too try and get a head start of possible by making sure the sides are clear for the morning. Washing up isn't always done depending on dh's shifts but as much as possible is stuffed in the dishwasher out of sight.

Yep - struggle with the vacuuming - it was done downstairs last week and probably a fortnight or so upstairs. Again in depends on dh's shifts as he does this job. It's frustrating as the house looks so much nicer after a quick hoover but I always pay for it when I try and do it. Any chance of limiting food being given to your toddler to just in the kitchen or wherever you eat? Easier said than done I know.

I remember those brooms too. They still sell them and you could get the toddler to do it as part of a game

Marking my glum & self-pitying place here. I'm forever joining 'do-better' threads, then slinking away after a couple of posts because I don't do better.

Mumsnet's a bastard Reading, typing & sitting in fixed position = large point/spoon/bean debit. Social interaction with vaguely intelligent people () = essential p/s/b credit.

I mistyped ten words of the above: a hint that I need to go back to bed [sigh]

Hey Unfortunately small flat means one main living space which is open plan kitchen, living and dining. And when I say dining, it's not really a set place, just in between kitchen area and sofa! He only eats in his high chair, has a crumb catching bib and a splash mat, we clean him before he gets out, but somehow he still manages to trail the crumbs It's like he stores them somewhere secret... Great idea to get him to use the broom thing though! He loves sweeping I've already been on Amazon and am seriously tempted to try one out, at the moment we're vacuuming the living space every 1-2 days, but we can't always manage it and when we don't do it that regularly it gets crumby pretty quickly. I've been using a dustpan and brush for interim but that's pretty tiring too.

Welcome Garlic, I'm guilty of slinking away from threads for the same reason... However at least here there isn't so much a 'do better', than a 'well this is what I can do, how can I make it a bit easier', um, vibe?

No idea if that makes sense.

And welcome to Recovering and shelley also!

We're on discussions of the day! I'm so sad-

I've been suffering from severe pregnancy nausea for 3 months so I went from normality to almost complete debilitation quite quickly. It was very difficult to keep on top of things as I was relentlessly ill everyday but here are a few things that come to mind:

Lower your standards regarding how clean the house should be. Eg hoovering under the sofa cushions, dusting the skirting boards, cleaning windows is now a rare luxury.
Stop going to the supermarket. Get online supermarket deliveries. We also have a milkman (something like 'Milk and More') for the daily milk and bread which means I don't have to pop out for those things and we can usually manage most of the week on the online shop.
I got one of those cordless vacuums, a Gmax or something. That's made quite a big difference as I can just wander around the downstairs with it on. There's no effort to bend down, unplug it, fiddle with attachments etc.
We also now have a tumble dryer for the first time which really helps as standing up hanging washing on the airer was much more tiring
Have a basket in each room for clearing toys into at the end of the day
Have a pack of cleaning wipes, bottle of bleach and loo brush in each bathroom/toilet. It only takes a couple of mins to squirt bleach, wipe the seat and sink every few days.
Have a squeegee in the bathroom and make sure your DP showers after you so he can squeegee the tiles and screen, then it hardly ever needs cleaning.
Wipe down the inside of the oven door every few days as that's much easier than cleaning it properly less often.
Don't iron anything unless absolutely essential.

I also agree with the minimalist thing, life is much simpler and happier with less stuff, and of course there's less to clean.

Welcome everyone! It's great to be on discussions of the day - loads of people struggle with this, and it is so cheering to have company :-)
Garlic no need to slink away from this thread - the bar is set extremely low in terms of actual housework, often around the zero mark, but that doesn't matter.
Larry it is indeed good to hear about other peoples' good days. I've had a good one too, although only at work: the house is a tip. I agree, if I can face a brief sort out of the kitchen at night, it really does help, although often I just can't. Actually doing the washing up is my worst, most tiring job so I just leave it in the sink like you. Wiped surfaces make the kitchen look clean though, and it smells nice.
On the washing theme, yy to how tiring hanging out washing is. I'm just waiting to spot a good dryer offer, then I'm going to take the plunge. I'm also going to start a wearing slightly grubby clothes for a bit longer policy - I mean if it is just felt tip on dd's t shirts - where's the harm?
I'm currently in denial about the fact that the thing that would help me most is decluttering, but I truly love my things What to do?

I have HMS and tend to have weeks when I'm really weak (hormonally related ligament softness)

I do have days when I'll make sure there's a clear channel across the floor and ignore it, so I have the energy for bigger tasks.

I tend to prioritise myself tasks for the day, anyhow. Certain things are unnegotiable, such as laundry, breakfast and lunch dishes and cooking dinner.

I keep on top of the bathroom and hard floors with antibac or cleaning wipes. I'll shove a floor wipe around with my foot if I feel that going down means I'll not be able to get up again, but there's a mess that can't be ignored.

Days when i do have a lot planned eg vacuuming right into the corners and under the table, dusting, sorting clothes to put away, I'll switch between different tasks so that I don't spend too long in one position and I can rest muscle groups that might get tired or sore.

Food wise, I use a mixture of convenience and fresh food. I'll build a couple of fork stabby days into the week for when I'm very tired or one of the kids is needing closer supervision than normal (both have ASD). I always serve extra veg or salad with it, though. Nights like tonight, I did pasta, I used a good quality jarred sauce, with sauted peppers and courgettes (easy chopping with both, with a sharp knife) and a tin of tuna. DS2 doesn't eat pasta, so I took a small pizza out of the freezer for him.

Oh - and upright vacuum cleaner for us. You just have to walk around with it. Much easier on my back and hands than a cylinder cleaner.

Thanks for the welcome :) I've worn myself out with the excitement of mending the leak under my sink - it took 3 minutes, a very short walk to B&Q, and hours of worrying. Guess what used up all my energy I have my Work Programme appointment tomorrow. My advisor's nice, but I still get terribly anxious about it and I need two hours to get there, thanks to shitty rural buses. So:
No cooking
No shower
No tidying
No vacuuming
Just East Enders, one vodka, and an early night.
Oh - and, bugger, changing the litter tray & taking the bin out.

I did something to my hip about 18 months ago and while recovering I had episodes of sciatica like pain that made sustained housework of the kind I liked to do pretty much impossible. I had to prioritise jobs that I couldn't leave and get them done daily either by myself if I could or by the two teens. Keeping on top of the dishwasher/sink/cupboard cycle and daily damp/mopping to keep dust at bay were the most important, as well as keeping bins and wastepaper baskets emptied daily. After that, I found that things could be let go at most for three days before the place started looking as if it had passed the point of no return. Delegation, if you have someone who can do an ok job, is really useful. The DDs did a lot of laundry and I sorted.

How is everyone? I'm ill and my house is a tip! Clean sink though.

Hope you feel better soon tiredowl.

We're doing alright at the moment, DH is feeling much better too which is great.

In fact, at the moment, we're unbelievably clean and tidy. I've been nesting, hard I don't have much else to do at the moment, I was wrapping up any major tasks prior to this week in anticipation of impending labour (eek) but no baby yet so... just sort of pottering around cleaning things. And cooking. Scared that we'll be too out of sorts to organise food once I go into labour so I've been batch cooking up a storm.

Could well be a case of the quiet before the storm!

wow larry you've been busy! Good luck :-)